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Rank’Em: Top 10 Standouts Begins With Dak

Finding just 10 players that excelled on Sunday is a tough chore. This was an ultimate team win, therefore many candidates emerged as top performers.

But we just chose 10, with an honorable mention. Also, we went a little sentimental in the fact that three players were either coming back from missing all of last year, or at least all of training camp – and still held up well.

Let’s start with an honorable mention, who certainly figures to be a weekly a staple in the Top 10.

The Cowboys had plenty of heroes on Sunday, staring with their quarterback. But we ranked the Top 10 players, and it’s not easy considering how many players had a big role.

1 / 11

DeMarcus Lawrence – He did have a half-sack and a forced fumble and recovery on a big fourth-down stop in the second half. D-Law said he wasn’t happy with his performance and obviously wanted more pressures, tackles and sacks. Still, his presence was felt at times in the pass rush.

2 / 11

10. Travis Frederick – More than anything, it was just an accomplishment to get back on the field after missing the entire season. Frederick’s journey came full circle on Sunday when he not only started the game, but seemingly had no issues as the Cowboys went up and down the field. There were no penalties called on Frederick, who helped anchor an offensive line that didn’t get Prescott sacked once.

3 / 11

9. Jason Witten – Another welcome back moment for the veteran, who scored a 4-yard touchdown in the second quarter, giving the Cowboys a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Witten’s day included three catches for 15 yards, but like Frederick, it was an amazing feat just come back from retirement and play the game and score a touchdown, the 69th of his career.

4 / 11

8. Ezekiel Elliott – There’s a theme here on these guys coming back and playing well in their first game. Zeke wasn’t exactly dominant, but that had to be expected considering he missed all of camp and the preseason and returned from Cabo on Tuesday. Still, he had 63 yards from scrimmage, including a 10-yard touchdown run that looked like the Old Zeke.

5 / 11

7. Tyron Smith – You didn’t hear much about Tyron on Sunday. That’s always a good thing. You also didn’t see Dak get sacked at all and rarely even rushed. Smith handled his business just fine, and did so despite dealing with some minor injuries throughout camp and the preseason. He was dominant at camp even with the setbacks and he looked the same on Sunday.

6 / 11

6. Randall Cobb – Welcome to Dallas Mr. Cobb. What a performance from the veteran, who showed exactly why the Cowboys wanted him on the field. He made plays over the middle that extended a big drive in the second quarter. But he also provides a downfield threat with his 25-yard that was wide open. Cobb’s first game finished with four catches for 49 yards and a score.

7 / 11

5. Leighton Vander Esch – He might’ve been a little higher on this list if he wasn’t involved in the Giants’ first TD of the game. But after that, just like the rest of the team. LVE picked it up. He finished with 10 tackles on the stat sheet, along with a half-sack with D-Law. He also had a forced fumble and a pass deflection. There was plenty of “howling” going on at AT&T Stadium for the “Wolf Hunter.”

8 / 11

4. Amari Cooper – If he can do that with plantar fasciitis in his feet, imagine what a “healthy” Cooper could’ve done on Sunday. Cooper didn’t look rusty or injured. He looked more like a guy making a case for a huge payday, catching six passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Several times, Cooper made catches to move the chains, helping the Cowboys score five different times on drives 75 yards or longer.

9 / 11

3.Xavier Woods – He set the tone with the first play of the game, knocking the ball out of from Saquon Barkley. The Giants recovered it, but it was one of many plays Woods came up and made an impact. He was credited with 11 tackles, and had a big stop on the goal line as well. More than anything, he also made sure nothing got deep behind him for a big play.

10 / 11

2. Michael Gallup – What a breakout game for Gallup, who caught every one of his seven targets, for a career-high 158 yards. Even his 13-yard catch over the middle on third-and-4 led to a touchdown. That was one of several big plays Gallup made as he opened his second NFL season. He looked more than just a complementary receiver next to Cooper.

11 / 11

1. Dak Prescott – Who else? With everyone watching and wondering just how he’s going to play as he continues this contract negotiation, Dak went out and had arguably the best performance by a Cowboys quarterback in franchise history – certainly the best on an opening day. He torched the Giants in every fashion, killing them with short passes, long passes and even his legs at times. Dak became just the fourth player in NFL history to throw for four TDs, 400 yards and a perfect 158.3 QB rating. You have to wonder if that performance might’ve raised his own price tag.